JUST IN: Messi’s plan to come home.
Messi’s plan to come home. Lionel Messi ‘hopes Barcelona president Joan Laporta makes contact’ to discuss sensational Nou Camp return this summer as Argentina star stalls on signing a new PSG deal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Messi is hesitant about signing a new deal with PSG amid suggestions of a return to Barcelona.
Barcelona have publicly admitted their desire to bring Messi back to the Nou Camp, with vice president Rafael Yuste saying that the club are eager for him to return.
Mundo state there has been contact between Laporta and Messi’s father, Jorge, but the player would like to hear Barcelona’s proposal directly.
Messi’s current contract with PSG is set to expire at the end of June and there remains much uncertainty over where he will be playing next season.
Mundo say there has been a very cold relationship between Messi and Laporta of late, with the pair not greeting each other when they met at the FIFA The Best awards gala in February.
Laporta said they ‘exchanged glances’ but he has stepped up the charm offensive since, saying recently: ‘He knows we have him in our hearts.
‘I have to find a way to improve Messi’s current relationship with Barca. We will see, but he knows the doors of Barca are open.’
However, Barcelona’s continued financial difficulties could prove to be a hindrance in terms of getting a deal done.
Messi has scored 19 goals for Christophe Galtier’s PSG this season, with the most recent of those strikes coming in Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Nice.
During his time at Barcelona Messi scored 672 goals and cemented his status as one of the greatest players ever.
There have been suggestions that Barcelona are planning to reduce their wage bill in order to fund a move for Messi, with Al-Hilal having also been linked with a £300m transfer.
